Margaret Everett told the Otago Daily Times the recent farewell to her relative had felt "rushed" because the cremation at the Andersons Bay crematorium in Dunedin needed to be completed by 1pm.
The crematorium, which is owned and operated by the Dunedin City Council, is closed from 1pm on Saturday and all day on Sunday.
Mrs Everett said family had travelled from around New Zealand and Australia for the Saturday funeral, and the crematorium's "ridiculous" operating hours should be reconsidered.
"It was hurtful, insensitive and robs grieving people [of] precious time to say goodbye to their loved one.
"I was saddened. The family were trying to do the best for our large extended family and were rushed by an ass of a bylaw," she said.
Council community and recreation services manager Mick Reece said when contacted the crematorium's hours of operation had been set following discussions with Dunedin funeral directors.
The hours were the "recommendation and preference" of funeral directors, he believed.
However, Hope and Sons funeral director Andrew Maffey expressed surprise at this, saying when contacted he believed the crematorium's operating hours were set by council staff.
"It's not our crematorium. It's nothing to do with us. We just run with the hours we are given," he said.
Despite the disagreement, Mr Reece said the matter would be raised with Dunedin funeral directors, "to see if they wish to extend their hours of operation", he said.
"If that is the case, we will be more than happy to accommodate this by reciprocating," Mr Reece said.
Mrs Everett's complaint was the first received by council staff on the crematorium's hours of operation, he said.
Council rules stated those using the crematorium - which opened in 1927 - were able to book the facility outside normal operating hours, but only with the agreement of funeral directors, he said.
A weekend rate of $624 was also charged for the one-hour service, up from $521 during normal hours.
Mr Maffey said his understanding had always been that the facility was closed from Saturday afternoon until Monday morning, and, as a result, the company would not accept bookings for after 12.30pm on Saturdays or at any time on Sundays.
Those wanting to use the facility - which included a chapel and crematorium - on Saturdays had to conclude their service and cremation by 1.30pm, or conduct the service on Saturday and wait until Monday for a cremation, he said.
